In what’s becoming an all-too-common refrain, the price of gas in Greater Victoria has again broken an all-time record high.
Several stations including Petro-Canada locations on Quadra Street and Shelbourne Street, as well as Chevrons on Gordon Head Road, Esquimalt Road and Hillside Avenue were selling regular fuel for 232.9 cents per litre on Monday, according to the price-tracking website GasBuddy.com
It comes nearly a week after gas hit its previous all-time high in Greater Victoria at 221.9 cents per litre.
Meanwhile, the average price of gas in the region continues to rise to previously unseen levels, hitting around 223 cents per litre on Monday, up from an average of 189 cents per litre in mid-April.
On Friday, B.C. Premier John Horgan — whose province has seen the highest fuel costs in Canada — encouraged residents to reduce their travel costs where possible by doubling up on trips to the grocery store, or avoiding unnecessary trips entirely.
The Opposition BC Liberals last week introduced their own plan to reduce the price of gas, calling on the government to temporarily suspend provincial gas taxes — which they say would provide immediate savings 0f 7.75 cents per litre — and to use carbon tax revenue to boost the $174 climate action tax credit.
However, the NDP argued that cutting gas taxes does not necessarily mean that money will go back into drivers’ pockets.
“More often that not, it is taken up by the gas companies that jacked the price up already,” Public Safety Minister and Solicitor General Mike Farnworth responded in the legislature.
The BC Green Party, meanwhile, pitched the idea of free transit for the next four months to alleviate the pinch on drivers’ wallets.
“British Columbians need immediate relief from the high costs of living. Free transit for the summer is a concrete way to reduce expenses,” said BC Green Leader Sonia Furstenau on Monday.
“Premier Horgan said that people should take the bus because gas prices are out of reach. He can take an important step today to help British Columbians save money, and take cars off of the road.”
Gas prices have been soaring around the world, with some experts chalking it up to to market destabilization caused by Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, as well as rising demand due to COVID-19 pandemic restrictions easing.
CHEK News
